The 15th International Bibliological Conference officially opened in the National Library of Belarus, on 4 April.

Director of the National Library of Belarus, Doctor of Education, Professor Roman Motulsky welcomed the participants. In his speech, he stressed that the 15th International Bibliological Conference marked two anniversaries. The conference is organized for the fifteenth time and gathers scientists from around the world. The second anniversary date is associated with the 40th anniversary of the Bibliology Research Department. The library staff have always been considered the best experts in book history, and thanks to their efforts, the National Library of Belarus has become the country’s center of book science. For forty years, the department has preserved, studied and promoted the national literary heritage, taking into account the actual needs of society.

Vyacheslav Kazachonok, head of the Historical and Archival Department of the Organizational and Control Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, and Anatoly Butevich, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Culture Fund, also made welcoming speeches. They outlined the status of the Conference as a recognized and respected scientific forum that promotes a dialogue and cooperation between researchers in different countries.

The official part of the meeting was the awards ceremony for the honorary members of the International Bibliological Conference. The first conference took place in 1998. It is significant that, in two decades, some of the organizers and participants of the first forum have arrived at this year’s event.

The awards were presented for the active participation in the Conference and personal contribution to the development of Belarusian book culture. Our Honours List:

Tatiana Roshchina, bibliographer, Honored Worker of Culture of Belarus,

Lyudmila Kiryukhina, editor-in-chief of the National Library of Belarus, Honored Worker of Culture of Belarus,

Galina Kireeva, chief bibliographer of the Bibliology Research Department of the National Library of Belarus,

Lyudmila Silnova, chief bibliographer of the Bibliology Research Department of the National Library of Belarus,

Alexander Stefanovich, head of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department of Central Scientific Library named after Yakub Kolas, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus,

Alena Titovec, PhD, head of the bibliology sector, the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department of Central Scientific Library named after Yakub Kolas, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus,

Tamara Samojlyuk, assistant editor of the Publishing Council of the Belarusian Orthodox Church,

Larissa Dovnar, Associate Professor, PhD, Professor in the Department of Library and Information Activity of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts,

Svetlana Leonteva, PhD, chief curator of Vetka Museum of Old Believers Faith and Belarusian Traditions named after Fyodor Shklyarov,

Georgij Golenchenko, PhD, Associate Professor, chief research worker at the Institute of History, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus,

Zoja Jaroszewicz-Pieresławcew, Prof., Dr Hab, Professor at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland),

Maria Pidłypczak-Majerowicz, Prof. Dr Hab, chair of the program committee of Wrocław Librarians' Corporation (Poland),

Lilia Kowkiel, PhD, specialist at the Polish Biographical Dictionary Department, Tadeusz Manteuffel Institute of History, the Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland).

Bibliology Researcg Department